Independent Central Coast providers join forces
In what is thought to be a first for the aged care sector, four providers on the Central Coast New South Wales have joined forces to deliver better aged care and support services.
(L to R): PACE Directors Shane Neaves CEO Peninsula Villages, Greg Williams CEO Central Coast Community Care Association, Ted Coupe CEO Evergreen Life Care, Phil Walsh CEO Adelene Retirement Village
Peninsula Villages, Adelene Retirement Village, Central Coast Community Care Association and Evergreen Life Care have formed PACE Aged Care under a shared services organisational model.
Under this model, the organisations will share resources, training, development and administration as well as opportunities for growth and increased career pathways. Member organisations have facilities that cover the Central Coast from Umina and Woy Woy in the south, to Morisset in the north.
Ron Thomsen, Evergreen board member and PACE Aged Care project manager believes the organisation will change the standard of aged care on the Central Coast.
“With the Central Coast boasting a prominent ageing population, the aged care industry is becoming increasingly competitive but instead of working against one another, PACE is an opportunity for organisations to work together for the betterment of all.”
He referred to a recent report by JBWere which found charities will need to group together around common causes if they are to survive and prosper.
“With so many aged care businesses, we have got to have efficiencies and this is exactly the model we are using,” Mr Thomsen says.
“Other smaller aged care or in-house care services can access the economies of larger organisations like PACE, and can access services such as HR through a vehicle like PACE,” he says.
Shane Neaves, PACE Aged Care director and Peninsula Village chief executive officer says the individual members don’t lose their identity and he believes it’s a real alternative to the For-Profit sector.
“There is a lot of talk about mergers, but this is a cohesive group with a common goal,” says Mr Neaves.
“We are geographically in different areas, but we have a voice in the community, a voice with the politicians and a voice on the Coast. We’re looking after the locals and we’re for the locals,” he says, highlighting PACE employs around 660 staff and cares for around 1200 residents.
PACE is currently merging some of the back offices functions and at its official launch on 18 March, announced Vietnam Veterans Keith Payne VC Hostel in Norah Head will be joining the group.
